The History of Fighting

A Shaolin monk demonstrating a headstand exercise to strengthen the skull

Mzilikazi, meaning "The Great Road" (c. 1790 - 1868), was a king from South Africa who is famous for leading a massive tribe known as the Khumalo on an 800 km long journey from Zululand to Matabeleland (now SW Zimbabwe), where he founded the Matabele kingdom. Formally a lieutenant of the great Zulu king Shaka, he rebelled in 1823 and formed his own tribe. Along the way he conquered many other tribes, assimilating the survivors into citizens of his own kingdom showing him to be both a great general and an accomplished statesman.

During a period known as the Mfecane (crushing) that lasted around 10 years, he waged war on all opposition in the Transvaal region with a death toll that was so high that when the Boers arrived and forced him to move on in the 1830s, they were able to take control of the region without any resistance from any remaining locals.

Eventually Mzilikazi and his people settled at Matabeleland in 1840 where they were able to repel further attacks by the Boers and by 1852, he had coerced a peace treaty from the government of the South African Republic.

Mestre Pastinha (left) with some of his students playing capoeira near the Pelourinho in 1963. This historical neighbourhood in  Salvador, Bahia, was named after the whipping post (Pelourinho means Pillory) situated in its central plaza, which was where African slaves once received punishment for infringements that would have included getting caught practicing fighting techniques.

Title:  Sasaki kojiro

Date:  c. 1815

Artist:  Ashihiro Harukawa

Infomation:  This painting depicts the Kabuki actor Ohtani Tomoemon, playing the role of samurai warrior Sasaki Kojiro who meet his end in his famous ill-fated duel with Miyamoto Musashi on Ganryu Island. Kojiro was everything a samurai warrior was expected to be and followed the local Bushido code to the letter. However he was infuriated by his opponent’s lack of respect when Musashi turned up late, was dressed like a tramp and fought, so the legend goes, with a bokken (wooden sword) he had fashioned out of a spare oar on the journey to the island.

Jitte, performed by sensei Imura Takenori with application from Masatoshi Nakayama

Jitte literally means Ten Hands and the name may imply that one must have the strength of ten men, which is how Masatoshi Nakayama interpreted it in his book, Best Karate, Volume 7, (seen by many as a definitive guide to Shotokan kata). An alternative theory is that the name may derive from the raised fists hand position from within the kata, which is said to looks similar to a type of Sai known as a Jitte that was carried by police on Okinawa during the 19th century.

Like its sister kata Jion and Ji’in, Jitte begins with the kamae of the left hand covering the right fist which may suggest roots in ancient Kung Fu. It was taught as a part of the Tomari-te Okinawan karate style and has elements of Gyaku-te grappling techniques. Its main function however is to teach defence against weapons, in particular the Bo Staff and helps the karateka develop pliable bones and muscles.

More Kata History

This image depicts the moment of inspiration for the invention of the art of Tai Chi Chuan, at least according to some sources. Chang Sanfeng is thought to have watched a fight between a snake and a bird in the 15th century and got the idea to build a style of fighting around his extensive knowledge of Taoist philosophy and internal energy.

A young Chojun Miyagi and Juhatsu Kyoda practising what appears to be an
application of the Okinawan kata Saifa.

Title:  The Bruiser Bruis'D, Or, the Knowing-Ones Taken-In

Date:  1750

Artist:  Unknown

Infomation:  Engraving of the fight between John 'Jack' Broughton and Jack Slack. Broughton was an instrumental influence on the early boxing scene after introducing the first rules aimed at providing some safety measures for fighters. In contrast Slack, after winning this fight and become the champ, went on to become the first known person to fix prize fights; he is also credited with inventing the rabbit punch, a particularly dangerous blow to the neck or to the base of the skull.